Benjamin Keleketu

Last updated

Benjamin Keleketu
Personal information
NationalityBotswana
Born (1965-02-06) 6 February 1965 (age 60)
Height1.50 m (4 ft 11 in)
Weight55 kg (121 lb)
Sport
SportLong-distance running
cross country running
EventMarathon

Benjamin Keleketu (born 6 February 1965) is a Botswana former long-distance runner and cross country runner. He competed in the men's marathon at the 1992 Summer Olympics and the 1996 Summer Olympics. [1] [2]

Contents

Career

As a cross country runner he competed in the men's race at the 1991 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Antwerp, Belgium. [3]

Ahead of the 1992 Summer Olympics he trained about 55 kilometres per week. He ran his first ever marathon in April 1992. [4]

The marathon event at the 1992 Summer Olympics was the second marathon he ever ran. [4] During the marathon he was "racked by pain and suffering" and found the "hill of hell" up to the stadium sheer purgatory but was devoted to reach the finish line. [5] [4] He finished the marathon as one of the last runners, 32 minutes after the South Korean winner. He had to finish the race at a warm-up track, as the Barcelona Olympic Stadium was needed for the 1992 Summer Olympics closing ceremony. Keleketu said after the finish in extensive comments how hard it was but that he will win next time. [4] [6]

Due to his achievement he became a hero in Botswana. [5] Four years later at the 1996 Summer Olympics he became a "popular figure" in Atlanta where the Olympics took place. [5]

He also represented his country at other international competitions, including at the 1995 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in France. [7]

References

  1. ↑ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Benjamin Keleketu Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  2. ↑ Dube, Mqondisi (23 July 2021). "Botswana's long Olympics journey". Mmegi (Botswana news media). Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  3. ↑ Magnusson, Tomas (24 March 2007), IAAF World Cross Country Championships - 11.8km CC Men - Antwerpen Linkerover Date: Sunday, March 24, 1991, Athchamps (archived), archived from the original on 16 October 2007, retrieved 24 October 2013{{citation}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Last into stadium, 'I'll win next time'". The Straits Times. 11 August 1992 – via eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
  5. 1 2 3 "Atlanta 1996 / The Centennial Olympic Games" (PDF). p. 249. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  6. ↑ "One-eyed Tuul cheated of glory". The Straits Times: 33. 11 August 1992 – via eresources.nlb.gov.sg. 'Towards the end, it was very, very bad. From the start, it was tough, humid, windy, sunny, all those things. "The hill was very bad. Oh how I just wanted to stop and rest.'
  7. ↑ IAAF WORLD HALF MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIPS - KAVARNA 2012 - FACTS & FIGURES - Incorporating the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships (1992-2005/2008-2010) & the IAAF World Road Running Championships 2006/2007 (PDF), IAAF , retrieved 1 September 2013
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